defter

A defter was a type of official record-keeping book used during the Ottoman Empire, mainly for managing tax collection, population data, and land ownership. Think of it as an administrative ledger that systematically documented crucial information about communities, resources, and economic activity. These records helped officials organize governance, assess taxes fairly, and understand the empire’s demographics. Similar to modern official registers, defters provided a structured way to keep track of vital data, ensuring efficient administration across the vast Ottoman territories.